Potato-harvesting machine.



No. 664,406. Patented Dad. 25, I900.

H. 'HABMS an. SEEGELKE. POTATO HARVESTING MACHINE.

(Application flied Apr. 13, 1900.)

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No. 664,406. I Patented D00. 25, I900.

' H. "ARMS 8|. H. SEE.GELKE.

PUTATO HARVESTING MACHINE.

Mmfigtion filed Apr. 18, 1900.) (llo Model.) 7 Sheets-Sheet 2fl/zhassesy fn/amm MzM-MJ 7H: nomus PETERS co. moraurua, WASNINGYOI. n.c

No. 664,466. Patentd UB0. 25, I900.

H. mums a n. sssasuuz. POTATO HARVESTING MACHINE.

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' N0. 664,406. Patented Dec. 25, I900. H. HABMS & H. SEEGELKE.

POTATO HARVESTING MACHINE.

(Application filed Apr. 13, 1900.1

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(No Model.)

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No. 664,406. Patented Dec. 25, I900. H. HABMS & H. SEEGELKE.

POTATO" HARVESTING MACHINE.

(Applicatidn filed Apr. 13, 1900.1

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No. 664,406. Patented Dec. 25, I900.

H. HARMS &. H. 'SEEGELKE. POTATO HARVESTING MACHINE. (Application filedApr. 13, 1900.; (No Model.) 7 Shaats-Shaet 6.

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I Patented Dec. 25, I900.

H. HARMS'& l-LSEEGELKE.

POTATO HARVESTING MACHINE.

(Ljplication filed Apr. 13. 1900.)

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UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

HINRICH HARMS AND HEINRICH SEEGELKE, OF EYSTRUP, GERMANY.

POTATO-HARVESTING MACHINE.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 664,406, dated December25, 1900. Application filed April 13, 1900. Serial No. 12,742. (Nomodel.)

To all whom, it may concern.-

Be it known that we, HINRIQH HARMS, blacksmith, and HEINRICH SEEGELKE,master blacksmith, subjects of the German Emperor, residing at Eystrup,in the province of Hauover, Germany, have invented new and usefulImprovements in Potato-Harvesting Machines, of which the following is aspecification.

The present invention relates to an improved potato-harvesting machine;and it has for its object to cut the plant or foliage from the potatoesand throw same aside before the latter are raised from the ground and,further, to separate the potatoes, cleaned from the adhering earth bymeans of the wellknown' vibratory sieve, from the root-stock,

quick-grass, and other plants or foliage by means of a specialdevice,whereupon the potatoes are elevated and conveyed to a sack,basket, or other receptacle suspended in the machine. I Other objects ofthe invention are' to simplify and cheapen and to render more efficient,durable, and serviceable in operation this class of devices.

To these ends and to such others as the invention may pertain the sameconsists in the peculiar combination and in the novel construction,arrangement, and adaptation of parts, all as more fully hereinafterdescribed, shown in the accompanying drawings, and then specificallydefined in the appended claim.

Our improved potato-harvesting machine is illustrated in the annexeddrawings, in which V Figure 1 is a lateral elevation showing the frontpart, and in Fig. 1 in-a lateral elevation showing the back part, of themachine. Fig. 2 is a plan view showing the front part, and Fig. 2 is aplan view showing the back part, of the machine. Fig. 3 is a frontelevation of a portion of the machine, partly in section. Fig. 4 is aplan view of the front part of the machine. Figs. 5 and 6 illustratedetails of construction on an enlarged scale.

The machine comprises, essentially, the frame 1, the front wheels 2, andthe rear guide-wheels 3. From the axle 4 of the front wheels the variousorgans of the machine receive their impulse by means of a drivingchainand suitable power-transmission gear. An endless chain 5, running, onthe one hand, over a toothed wheel 6, mounted on a shaft 7, supported inan extension of the frame 1 in front of the wheels 2, and, on the otherhand, over a toothed wheel 9, mounted on a shaft 8, situated between thefront wheels 2 and the rear wheels 3, above the main frame 1, carriesspikes 10 at suitable distances apart, which serve for the purpose ofpreventing the clods raised from falling back. Atthe right and left ofthe lower shaft 7 pointed arms 12 for raising the plants and an angulararm 11, serving a siniilar purpose, are provided. In the pointed arms 12rotary knives 13, mounted on the shaft 7, are located. Below the endlesschain 5 an elevator-chain 15 of any suitable construction is arranged,which runs over a toothed wheel mounted on the shaft 14 and over atoothed wheel 17, supported about the center of the main frame 1 andabove same. The endless chain 5 receives its motion from the shaft ofthe toothed wheel 17 for the ole vator-chain 15. Below theelevator-chain 15 the share 19 is supported, the pointed front end ofwhich is between and beneath the rotary cutters 13. Beneath the toothedwheel 17 for the elevator-chain 15 the vibratory sieve 20 is located,which is actuated by means of cams 21 and which receive their impulse bymeans of suitable transmission-gear 22 from the pulley 23: Said pulley23 in its turn is driven by means of the transmission-gear 24 from thechain-wheel 25, mounted on the axle 4 of the front wheels. The vibratorysieve 20, which is inclined toward the rear, terminates above a rake 26,supported at the rearward end of the machine. Said rake 26 consists ofan endless chain fitted with small spikes 27, and it is guided beneath arotary roller 28, located in the frame of the machine, standing adistance apart from this roller 28 small enough to prevent the potatoesfrom passing between. Below the vibratory sieve 20 a transporter isarranged, which serves for the purpose of guiding the potatoes returnedfrom the rake 26 to the collecting-dish 29adjacent to the elevator 31.The lower end of this collecting-dish 29 is bent in such a manner thatthe blades 30, mounted on the elevator-chain 31, close same toward thebottom. The elevator-chain 31 moves in a casing 33, thedownwardly-leading end of which terminates funnel-like. Beneath thisfunnellikeend of the 'elevator-casin'g 33 a receiver 34 for the potatoesis suspended in any suitable and convenient manner. The machine isfurther provided with a seat for the driver and the necessary appliancesforpulling and guiding same, as well as brake and all other accessoriesnecessary for a machine of this kind.

Our improved potato-harvesting machine operates in the following manner:The front arms 12 raise the potato-plants, While the angular arm 11receives same and brings them in front of the rotary cutters 13, whichcut the plant off, the latter by virtue of the angular configuration ofthe arm 11 being de posited on the ground laterally of the clodcontaining the potatoes to be harvested. By means of theshare 19 theroot-stocks, with the potatoes and soil adhering thereto, are raised andbrought onto the elevator 15, while the spikes of the endless chain 5prevent their falling back. The elevator conveys the root-stocks, withthe potatoesand soil, to

the vibratory sieve 20 inthe well-known manner, the potatoes beingseparated from the soil or earth by the action of the sieve .20, whichcauses the earth to drop through its meshes or holes, the thus cleanedpotatoes reaching the rake 26. The spikes 27 of this rake 26 arrest thequick-grass and the like adhering to the potatoes, which are conveyedtoward the roller 28, where the potatoes which still cling to thequick-grass are separated, returned, and conveyed from the transporterto the collecting-dish 29, where the other potatoes have been collected.Roots, quickgrass, and the like carried by the spikes 27 pass the roller28 and are deposited on the ground at the rear of the machine. 'Thepotatoes collected on the dish 29 are caught by theblades 30, elevatedin the casing 33, and deposited, passing the funnel-like end of thiscasing, in the receptacle 34.

The transmission-gears of the machine are chosen in such a manner thatthe various organs of the machine receive their proper impulsel What Weclaim as new, and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is-

The combination in a potato-harvesting machine of plant-raisers 11 and12, rotary cutters 13 for separating the plant from the root-stock, ashare for raising the root-stock and the earth adhering thereto, anelevator 15, an endless chain 5 with spikes 1O preventing theroot-stocksfrom falling back in the elevator, a vibratory sieve 20, a rake 26, aroller 28 for separating thepotatoes from the quick-grass and the like,a collectingdish 29, a conveyor with blades 30 in a casing 33 fordepositing the potatoes harvested in a suitable receptacle andtransmission means for actuating the various organs from the wheels ofthe machine, substantially as described andshown.

In testimony whereof we have hereunto set our hands in presence of twosubscribing wit- HBSSBS.

JAY WHITE, LEONORE BASCH.

